Books I Recommend

I love to read. The irony is that I’m not very good at it. For whatever reason, I’m a slow reader. Pair that with a short attention span (which I have) and you get somebody who starts a lot of books, but finishes few. So here’s a list of books I’ve been into lately; some I’ve started and some I’ve finished, but I’ve learned something interesting from all of them.

This is easily the most significant book on leading creatives and innovating I’ve read since the Steve Jobs biography by Walter Isaacson. Ed is able to bring clarity and specific language to concepts about creativity that have existed only in my mind in abstract form up to this point. This is a must read.

I bought this book on a whim several months back and am so glad I did. This book will help you become a better, wiser leader, both at home and on the job. This excerpt from the first chapter sums up for me why this book is so important:

If we have love but not wisdom, we will harm people with the best of intentions. If we have courage but not wisdom, we will blunder boldly. If we have truth but not wisdom, we will make the gospel ugly to other people. If we have technology but not wisdom, we will use the best communications ever invented to broadcast stupidity. If we have revival but not wisdom, we’ll use the power of God to throw the church into reverse gear.

I’m currently reading back through it for the second time because it’s just that good. Again, a must read.

I’ve only recently started this book so I’m only a few chapters in, but from what I’ve read so far, it has the potential to radically affect not only my working relationships, but also my personal relationships. It’s definitely worth checking out.

This might be my all-time favorite book. If it’s true that Jesus is the source of all creativity, and he is, then it also stands to reason that the strength of our relationship with him will be the wellspring of our creativity. Sadly, many of us in the creative world spend far more time trying to develop the gift that Jesus gave us rather than developing a relationship with Jesus himself. This book will help you do just that.

Have you read any of these books? Share your thoughts, plus any interesting books you’ve been reading lately in the comments below.

Whitney George is the Executive Pastor at Church on the Move, where he oversees the operations and ministries of the church. Whitney is passionate about the local church and loves connecting with other church leaders. He and his wife, Heather, have five children and he loves Notre Dame football.